[Metropolis]
The current Metropolis had barely recovered to its former scale.
The newly built skyscrapers had brought life back to the city.
On the rooftop of a building, light burst out from an iron door at the entrance leading to the roof.
The iron door bulged outward, then flew off with a buzz and crashed onto the rooftop.
A figure then walked out from the entrance.
It was a woman.
She looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
She was beautiful, but her gaze was sharp.
Her platinum-blonde hair was cut short, giving her a capable appearance.
She wore earrings and a tight combat suit. Red and blue colors crossed over the suit, outlining her figure.
A stars-and-stripes cape hung from her shoulders. As the wind blew, the cape flapped loudly.
"DC Universe?"
"What happened to Metropolis?"
"This isn't the same DC Universe I've been to before."
"Well, makes sense. This is another 'brother's' multiverse. Even among multiverses, universes aren't exactly the same."
"Who even designed so many worlds?"
"Tsk! Whatever."
"So what's the challenge mode this time?"
Lines of information appeared across her retina.
[Confrontation Mode confirmed.]
[The confrontation mode for this invasion event is: Survival of the Fittest.]
[Event Requirement: Choose one of the three factions, 'Apokolips,' 'Justice League,' or 'Free Forces', and ensure your alliance ultimately obtains all three Mother Boxes.]
[Choose 'Apokolips': Hostility from the other two factions +100%. (Difficulty: Low)]
[Choose 'Justice League': Hostility from 'Apokolips' +100%, hostility from 'Free Forces' +30%. (Difficulty: Moderate)]
[Choose 'Free Forces': Hostility from 'Apokolips' +100%, hostility from 'Justice League' +30%. (Difficulty: High)]
[Available factions within Free Forces: 'Amazons,' 'Atlantis,' and 'Humans.']
[After choosing a faction, favorability with that faction +50%.]
[Faction favorability determines the level of assistance you can receive, including personnel, intelligence, equipment, and more.]
[Faction difficulty will affect the final event evaluation and rewards. Higher difficulty yields better rewards.]
[Note: As an invader, you will receive the following penalties.]
[1. Your overall strength is reduced by 5%. This includes your talents, items, rune stones, artifact effects, and more. The reduction will remain until the invasion event ends.]
[2. Due to the influence of the 'Survival of the Fittest' mode, before the event ends, after every confrontation or clash, the losing side's overall strength will decrease by 10%. This value stacks continuously until strength reaches zero and will recover after the event ends. Alternatively, the loser may offer 100 'Proficiency Essences' or items of equal value to the winner to avoid the penalty.]
[Note 2: Either side in a confrontation may use a surrender item at any time to end the event. However, after the event ends, the surrendering side must immediately leave the DC Universe and accept the penalty.]
[This confrontation mode is not a deathmatch. Please use surrender items as appropriate. Sometimes avoiding direct conflict can be a good choice.]
[The event has begun.]
[Please choose a faction as soon as possible!]
[Please choose a faction as soon as possible!]
[Please choose a faction as soon as possible!]
"Survival of the Fittest mode, huh?"
The woman clicked her tongue. Looking at the endless stream of [Please choose a faction as soon as possible!] messages appearing across her retina, she snorted, "Is there even a question?"
"I choose the Justice League."
"The last time I went through this storyline event, Clark was seriously amazing, whether on the battlefield or in bed."
The corner of her mouth lifted.
[You have chosen 'Justice League'.]
['Batman' Bruce Wayne's favorability toward you has increased. Current level: 'Acquaintance'.]
['Aquaman' Arthur's favorability toward you has increased. Current level: 'Acquaintance'.]
['Flash' Barry Allen's favorability toward you has increased. Current level: 'Acquaintance'.]
['Cyborg' Victor Stone's favorability toward you has increased. Current level: 'Acquaintance'.]
After these messages appeared, the woman waited patiently for a while longer.
But no other messages appeared.
"That's it?"
She looked surprised.
"What about Superman? What about Wonder Woman?"
"In this universe, aren't they members of the Justice League?"
That caught her completely off guard.
The reason she had chosen the Justice League was because Clark was in it, a Kryptonian who was basically a cheat-level existence.
But now, not only might the Justice League not have Clark, it might not even have Diana.
"Bullshit."
The woman shouted.
"If I'd known, I would've picked Apokolips. What the hell is wrong with this universe?"
"Where's Clark?"
"Where's Wonder Woman?"
"Are they dead?"
"Wait!"
She slapped her forehead and laughed.
"Right. The current timeline might not have reached the point where Bruce Wayne revives Clark yet."
"Yeah, that should be it."
"Clark is still dead right now. Back when I was in the Justice League, I helped bring Superman back too."
"I was too impatient."
"But..."
She frowned again.
"Why didn't I get any favorability information for Wonder Woman?"
"Could it have something to do with my 'brother'?"
"Did he hook up with Wonder Woman?"
"Heh! Now that's interesting."
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"The penalty I received is pretty small. Even though I'm already this strong."
"She-Hulk gene enhancement, the artifact Mjolnir, the artifact Incomplete Armor of Zeus, Boots of Hermes, plus everything else."
"Even with all that, my punishment is only a 5% reduction in overall strength."
She laughed, "This is going to get interesting."
"Mm, better prepare the Banner of Shame first. If things don't work out, I'll just surrender."
"Since it isn't an Iron Cage Blood Duel, there's no need to fight to the death."
"As long as you're alive, you can always earn back what you've lost."
After making a series of preparations, the female Homelander took out two artifacts from her inventory.
One was Mjolnir from the Marvel Universe.
The other was the Boots of Hermes from the DC Universe.
After equipping herself, she shot up into the sky.
She flew more than a thousand meters into the air before stopping.
"There's a problem."
"Where does Bruce live?"
"This Metropolis is a little different from the one I know."
"The buildings all look new. It seems like the city was rebuilt."
"Did something happen in this universe?"
"Whatever. I'll check the Batcave location I know first. If I can't find it, I'll think of something else."
Whoosh!
The female Homelander turned into a blur and quickly vanished into the sky.